SDSU leads Commissioner's Cup race

ELMHURST, Ill. — On the strength of first-place finishes in both men's and women's basketball during the winter sports season, South Dakota State has taken over the top spot in the 2012-13 Summit League Commissioner's Cup standings.

With 55.5 points, the Jackrabbits lead the all-sports race by one point over Oakland. North Dakota State is third with 45 points, followed by the University of South Dakota with 44.5 points.

SDSU regained the top spot after placing in the top-five in all six winter sport standings, including a second-place finish in men’s swimming and diving. Oakland remained in the top two of the standings after first-place finishes in both men’s and women’s swimming and diving, and a fourth-place showing in men’s basketball.

In addition, the Jackrabbits have the lead in their respective men's and women's all-sports races, holding a half-point lead over Oakland in both divisions.

The Commissioner’s Cup is given annually to the member institution that collects the most combined points in relationship to placement in league-sponsored sports between its men’s and women’s athletic programs, while the All Sports Awards are given to the institutions that accumulate the most points in men’s sports and women’s sports. The men’s award is named for former Valparaiso Director of Athletics Dr. William Steinbrecher, who guided the Crusaders from 1979-2004, while the women’s award is named for former Western Illinois Director of Athletics Dr. Helen Smiley, who headed WIU’s athletic program from 1994-2001.

The winner of the all-sports races will be determined by the results in eight different sports: baseball, men's and women's golf, softball, men's and women's tennis, and men's and women's outdoor track and field.